The grasslands of the Great Indian Bustard Sanctuary at Nannaj near Solapur in south-eastern Maharashtra are a sight to behold in the hour before sunset. The dying daylight brings out the beauty of dry grass. Golden and silky, the undulating grass takes your attention away from the lack of wildlife, if only for a while. Besides a few blackbucks and raptors, the grasslands are largely undisturbed, at least to the naked eye. Visitors' ability to spot wildlife may not necessarily be a good barometer of healthy fauna populations in a protected area (PA), but at this sanctuary it might well be the case. Only five of the sanctuary's flagship species, the great Indian bustard or Ardeotis nigriceps,...
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